Pre-Feasibility Analysis of Solar-wind Hybrid System Potential in a Complex Hilly Terrain

International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering

Volume 3, Special Issue 3: ICERTSD 2013, Feb 2013, pages 277-282

An ISO 9001:2008 certified Int. Journal, ISSN 2250-2459, available online at www.ijetae.com

Presented at International Conference on Energy Resources and

Technologies for Sustainable Development, 07-09 February 2013, Howrah, India.

ICERTSD2013-08-276

IJETAE2013

Pre-feasibility analysis of solar-wind hybrid system potential in a complex hilly terrain

Sunanda Sinha 1*

, S.S.Chandel 1

1 Centre for Energy& Environment

National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, India-177005

*Corresponding author email: [email protected]

ABSTRACT

A renewable energy hybrid system, is one of the cost effective and reliable options for power supply in

remote areas of India. In this paper, a prefeasibility study is carried out to assess the potential for solar-wind

hybrid systems for Hamirpur town located in Western Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh (31.68 N,

76.52 E). The one year time series solar and wind data is analyzed using HOMER software (Hybrid

Optimization Model for Electric Renewable) to carry out the prefeasibility analysis. The solar radiation data

analysis shows that more than 800 W/m2

is available for 250 hours, 600 W/m2

to 800 W/m2 of radiation is

available for 550 hours, 200 to 400 W/m2

of radiation is available for 1000 hours and 100 to 200 W/m

2

radiation is available for 700 hours during the year with average annual solar radiation of 432.5 W/m2

indicating a potential site for setting up of a solar photovoltaic power plant. The wind data analysis shows

that wind speed wind speed duration of 3700 hours for 1-2 m/s, 3050 hours for 2-3 m/s, 950 hours for 3-4

m/s, 300 hours for 4-10 m/s wind speed ranges.. The wind speeds less than 1 m/s wind speed is available for

760 hours in a year. The annual average wind speed for this site is found to be 2.094 m/s. The wind speed

duration analysis shows that there is sufficient wind availability for short durations which can be utilized

through micro wind turbines. The micro wind turbines with a lower cut in speeds ~ 1.5- 2m/s will be suitable

for small power generation. The results of the study indicate that there is good potential for utilizing

solar-micro wind hybrid systems to supplement the energy needs in hilly regions.

Keywords: Hybrid energy system; Solar Photovoltaics; Wind energy; HOMER

1. INTRODUCTION

The increasing energy consumption and rising

public awareness about environmental protection

have resulted in interest in the utilization of

renewable energy sources. The solar, wind and

biomass are being utilized for power generation

both on large as well as on small scale in India.

However, a renewable power system based on a

single source may not be effective in terms of cost,

reliability and efficiency for which hybrid systems

offer a better option. A hybrid energy system is a

better solution for electrification of remote rural

areas where grid extension is both difficult and

uneconomical. The hybrid systems that combine

solar and wind generating units with battery

backup can attenuate their individual fluctuations

and reduce energy storage requirements

significantly by integrating two resources in a

proper combination[1].

There are a number of parameters which affect

the efficiencies and functioning of hybrid power

generation system, the most important parameters

are solar irradiance and wind speed .

In order to determine the dimensions of a

wind-solar stand-alone system, the assessment of

solar and wind potential of the site, is necessary [2]

For the estimation of solar and wind potential, at

least one year accurate meteorological data for a

particular location is essential. The solar and wind

resource information is generally available often in

terms of monthly averages of daily global

irradiation falling on horizontal surfaces or

monthly average wind speed data without the

proper resource availability duration for a typical

meteorological year [3]. In order to carry out the

analysis for setting up a solar-wind hybrid power

plant, the solar radiation and wind speed potential

of the site along with duration of resources is

essential.

IJETAE2013 ICERTSD2013-08-276

278

Int. J Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering

ISSN 2250-2459, Volume 3, Special Issue 3: ICERTSD 2013, Feb 2013, pages 277-282

The present research work focuses on

pre-feasibility analysis for developing a

Solar-Wind hybrid power generation system, with

one year time series data analyzed using Hybrid

Optimization Model for Electric Renewable

(HOMER) .[4-5]

2. METHODOLOGY

In order to determine, the wind and solar

photovoltaic generation potential in the complex

hilly terrain of Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, the

solar radiation and wind speed for one typical

meteorological year (Oct- 2011-September 2012)

was measured using a Cambell automatic weather

station equipped with anemometer, wind vane,

pyranometer, rain fall, temperature, pressure, and

relative humidity sensors. The data monitoring

system stores data of solar radiation and wind

speed every 1 minute of interval. The raw data are

analyzed using HOMER software by importing

time series data file. The monthly, yearly variation,

duration curves for solar and wind characteristics,

are studied. HOMER is a micro power

optimization software used to evaluate designs of

both off-grid and grid-connected power systems

for a number of applications developed by

Mistaya Engineering, Canada for the National

Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) USA [6].

HOMER can simulate the operation of a system by

making energy balance calculations and displays a

list of configurations, sorted by net present cost

that can be used to compare system design. Many

tools are also available for sizing and simulation of

a hybrid system but HOMER incorporates all the

renewable as well as fossil fuel supply sources (eg:

diesel generator).The HOMER inputs, solar

radiation data and wind speed data loaded into

program using a text file. After submitting solar

radiation and wind speed data according to one

minute of time step interval HOMER gives

monthly and yearly variations.

3. RESULTS & DISCUSSION

The data analysis results are presented in the

following sub-sections. It shows that the solar

radiation varies almost in the same manner but

wind speed varies more stochastically. These

characteristics have a considerable effect on the

proper sizing and successful operation of the

hybrid system. The analysis of the measured

monthly data for the period, indicates that the

energy contribution from photovoltaic and wind

generators, is expected to vary month wise.

3.1 Solar radiation characteristics

The measured global solar radiation is analyzed

using HOMER software as an input text file of one

minute time interval. Fig.1, shows monthly

variation of solar radiation throughout a typical

meteorological year.


279



Figure 1: Monthly Solar radiation profile

The solar radiation duration curve of the site for

one year, is shown in Fig 2, it is clear that solar

radiation of more than 800 W/m2

is available for

almost 250 hours, 600 W/m2

to 800 W/m2

of

radiation is available for 550 hours, 200 and 400

W/m2

of radiation is available for 700 hours and

100 W/m2

to 200 W/m2

radiation is available for

1000 hours during the year.


280



Figure 2: Global Solar radiation duration during a

year

The annual variation of solar radiation shows

that maximum radiation occurs during May and

minimum in month of January with a yearly

average radiation of 432.5 W/m2 [Fig 3].

Figure 3: Monthly variations of Global Solar

radiation

The results show that the location is a potentially

good site for setting a solar photovoltaic power

plant.

3.2 Wind speed characteristics

The monthly wind speed characteristics at the

site are shown for each month in Fig 4.The general

wind resource trend shows that there is a dip in

wind speed between 6 am-12 noon and the wind

speed increases after increase in speed during

12-18 hours.


281



Figure4: Monthly variations of wind speed

Wind speed duration curve in Fig 5 shows that

1-2 m/s wind speed with a duration of 3700 hours

yearly is most prevalent at the site. The 2-3 m/s

wind speed has duration of 3050 hours and 3-4

m/s wind speed is prevalent for 950 hours and 4-10

m/s. is prevalent for 300 hours. The wind speeds

less than 1 m/s wind speed are available during 760

hours in a year

Figure 5: Annual wind speed duration profile


282



The yearly variation of wind speed shows, that

maximum wind speed occurs in month of May and

minimum in month of January [Figure 6]. The

analysis indicates that a micro wind turbine with a

lower cut-in speed can be effective for small power

generation.

Figure 6: Annual variation of wind speed

4. CONCLUSION:

The solar and wind resource for the site in a

complex hilly terrain is analyzed, to study the

prefeasibility of establishing a solar-wind hybrid

system. The site has an excellent solar resource

potential for establishing solar PV plants. The

wind speed characteristics of the region indicates a

low wind speed zone with a low monthly wind

speed averages of 2-3m/s. However, the wind

speed duration analysis shows that there is

sufficient wind availability for short durations

which can be utilized through micro wind turbines.

The micro wind turbines with a lower cut in speeds

~ 1.5- 2m/s will be suitable for small power

generation. Our contention is that there is a

sufficient unexploited wind resource available in

the hilly region which needs to be utilized for small

decentralized power generation and other

applications like battery charging, oil extraction

water pumping, grain grinding etc. The solar

micro wind hybrid systems will be effective and economical for these regions of India. The

detailed analysis of the solar, wind resource of the

hilly regions of India needs to be carried as these

areas are neglected at present. Further follow up

study on the feasibility of solar wind hybrid

systems in hilly regions, is being carried out by the

authors.

REFERENCES

1 Yang.H., Zhou.W., Lu.Lin, and Fang. Z.,2008, Optimal sizing method for stand-alone hybrid solarwind system with LPSP technology by using genetic algorithm, Solar Energy, 82(4) : 354367

2 Kaldellis,J.K., and Zafirakis.D.,2012,Optimum sizing of stand-alone wind-photovoltaic hybrid

systems for representative wind and solar potential

cases of the Greek territory, Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics, 107108,: 169178

3 Labed.S, and Lorenzo.E.,2004, The impact of solar radiation variability and data discrepancies on the

design of PV systems ,Renewable Energy, 29(7) :10071022

4 Fulzele,J.B., and Dutt, Subrato, 2012, Optimium Planning of Hybrid Renewable Energy System Using

HOMER, International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering (IJECE) , 2(1): 68-74

5 http://www.homerenergy.com/.

6 Ajao ,K.R., Oladosu, O.A. and Popoola, O.T. ,2011 ,Using HOMER power optimization software for cost benefit analysis of hybrid-solar power

generation relative to utility cost in Nigeria, International Journal of Research and Reviews in

Applied Sciences (IJRRAS), 7(1): 96-102

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Sunanda Sinha is a Research Scholar at

Centre for Energy and Environment at

NIT-Hamirpur, HP,India. She did her

M.tech from Jadavpur

University,Kolkata,WB. She has

research interst in solar energy,wind

energy etc. She has some publications in

various national and international journals and conferences.

Dr. S. S. Chandel is Professor at Centre

for Energy and Environment at

NIT-Hamirpur, HP,India. He has

research interst in renewable energy,

energy policy etc. He has several

publications in various national and

international journals and conferences.

Pre-Feasibility Analysis of Solar-wind Hybrid System Potential in a Complex Hilly Terrain

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